Treacherous — A Vocabulary Story
The Treacherous Path to Tiger's Nest
Fatma adjusted her rucksack and squinted up at the monastery clinging to the cliff face above. Bhutan's mountain air bit her cheeks, and the path ahead looked anything but friendly.
"Ready?" asked Jorge, her climbing partner, who had flown in from Madrid for this very expedition.
"As I'll ever be," Fatma replied, eyeing the treacherous switchbacks.
Treacherous means guilty of betrayal or deception. It also means presenting hidden or unpredictable danger.
Their guide, Kyaw, smiled patiently. He had climbed this trail hundreds of times. "The first kilometre is gentle. After that, it becomes treacherous, especially where the loose shale meets the cliff edge."
They began walking. Pine trees whispered overhead, and prayer flags fluttered like restless birds. Soon the path narrowed, hugging a treacherous drop that made Fatma's stomach lurch.
"Don't look down," Jorge warned, his voice steady.
A sudden drizzle made the stones treacherous underfoot. Fatma's boot slipped, and she gasped, grabbing a wooden railing.
"Slow and certain," Kyaw said calmly. "Treacherous ground rewards patience, never panic."
They pressed on. At a wooden bridge spanning a roaring waterfall, the spray made the planks treacherous, slick as ice. Fatma crossed sideways, heart hammering.
Finally, after three treacherous hours, they reached the monastery. Golden roofs glittered against the impossible blue sky.
Fatma laughed, breathless. "Worth every treacherous step."
Kyaw nodded. "The mountain teaches us. Brave hearts climb; wise hearts respect the climb."
Word Definition
treacherous
meaning
guilty of betrayal or deception; presenting hidden or unpredictable danger
synonyms
dishonest · disloyal · tricky · unreliable · false
antonyms
loyal · faithful · trustworthy
example sentence
The treacherous ally secretly passed information to the enemy.